HKPR data finds high number of pregnant women are unvaccinated

DAN CEARNS, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, for The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR) has found there are a large number of pregnant women in the health unit area who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Among women [who] are pregnant across HKPR district health unit jurisdiction, only 58.5 percent have received their first dose of vaccine, and only 47.3 percent have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine. These numbers are consistent with other health units across the province,” local medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking said, at a virtual press conference on Wednesday, September 22nd.

She explained this could be due to this group of people taking extra caution as they go through this experience.

“I think pregnancy is often a time of heightened anxiety, and a period where women and their families and their communities are more cautious about medications or vaccines, and protecting their health overall,” Dr. Bocking said.

However, she wanted to dispel any misinformation out there about the COVID-19 vaccines.

“All of the data we have to date has indicated there is no increase in harmful effects from COVID-19 vaccines on pregnant women or on the unborn baby.”

She added it would be worse for a pregnant woman to become infected with COVID-19.

In Ontario, the largest demographic of new COVID-19 cases are from people who are not vaccinated or are partially vaccinated. “To me, this just speaks to the protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination,” Dr. Bocking said.

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